North Country Trail Association

Explore the Trail

Welcome to America’s North Country.

 

The North Country National Scenic Trail is the longest in the National Trails System, stretching 4,800 miles across eight states from North Dakota to Vermont.

 

The Trail traverses through more than 160 federal, state and local public lands, including 10 National Forests, four areas of the National Park Service, and over 100 state parks, forests and game areas. It winds along three of the Great Lakes, past countless farmlands, through large cityscapes and vast prairies, over many rivers and streams, and through the famed Adirondacks. The North Country Trail also shares routes with the Superior Hiking Trail in Minnesota, the Buckeye Trail in Ohio, the Finger Lakes Trail in New York, and the Iron Belle Trail in Michigan.

Whether you’re looking to hike just a few miles or plan a longer backpacking trip, the North Country Trail offers diverse landscapes and flexible hiking opportunities.

The North Country Trail Association respectfully acknowledges the North Country National Scenic Trail rests on the ancestral and contemporary homelands of Indigenous peoples. We aspire to recognize those who inhabited and stewarded this land throughout history by treading gently, and treating these places with honor and respect.

 

Header photo by Kedron Rhodes

Trails and Maps

Trail Maps & Downloads

Use our online interactive map and printable maps to explore the trail and plan your next trip.

View Maps

Featured Segment

Chippewa National Forest

The nearly 667,000-acre Chippewa National Forest in north central Minnesota currently hosts 61 miles of the North Country National Scenic Trail. It also has a unique history.

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Chippewa National Forest

Plan Your Hike

Whether you’re day hiking or a thru-hiking the North Country Trail, it’s essential to plan and prepare.

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Matt Davis